[VHFcontesting] PAR Moxon as rove antenna (James Duffey)

[jon jones]

Pertinent comments by James re. the Moxon vs. a loop antenna for Rover or portable operation. 4 - 5 dB gain over a loop may not sound like a lot... but it is significant. It will make the difference between calling CQ with no replies and running stations during openings. Hearing a weak DX station vs. putting them in your log. I have worked James when he was rover/portable in New Mexico on Es and he had a great signal on 6.
 
Another option for a rover operating fixed or a portable station on 6 meters is the 2 el yagi. I use one for my rover and portable operation. It has about the same gain as a Moxon, and my the only costs were the coax. I can put it up in less than 5 minutes and it breaks down and fits easily into a Hyuandai Elentra. The coax connects directly to the front driven element - no gamma match needed, and the SWR is almost a flat 1:1 at 50.125.  I use Radio Shack 5 ft. TV masts. A horizontal antenna will work much better on 6 if you can get it up at least 1 wavelength (18 feet) high.  15 feet is a reasonable compromise, 20 ft. is better. I also use a 3 el M2 yagi for portable use, but it takes a lot longer to put it together and  it is more cumbersome to put up. The 2 el is my choice for "pop up" fixed Rover operating and getting on the air quickly at a rest stop or high point. While DX results vary on conditions -- I have worked all continents on 6 with the 2 el yagi via Es including JW7QIA near the north pole from Kansas since 2006.
 
A plan for building a 2 element 6 meter yagi here:
 
http://www.qsl.net/k7yo/6m2yagi.htm
 
The Moxon or 2 el yagi are also good options for a 6 meter attic antenna.
 
 - Jon N0JK
 

> The Moxon is an excellent performer compared to a loop. It particularly shines during marginal band openings, when the band is just opening  and when it is closing. Compared to a loop, it is much easier to hold a run frequency and to attract the attention of strong stations who may not have their antennas pointed towards you.  At 4 dB gain over a dipole, it is probably 5 or 6 dB gain over a loop, and that makes a big difference, particularly when signals are near the noise level. If you are running a loop and want to make a big improvement to your rover, go to a Moxon. The cost of the PAR SM-50, which was $100 when I bought it, and I think now is close to $120 with the rise in Al prices. That price is about the same, or not much more than a loop, I see HRO is selling the M2 6M loop for $140, but the results from the Moxon are much better than a loop.
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> At 7 ft wide and 31 inches deep, it is a big antenna, but the wire reflector and 5/16 inch side pieces make it fairly light weight. You need to plan for it in the installation. I use 1.25 inch EMT for a mast and that is more than adequate, even with 8 ft antennas for the other bands installed. We drive with it at 10 to 12 feet high and extend it to 15 feet or so when stopped.  When I first got the antenna and put it together in the driveway prior to roving, my first thought was ?This is a big antenna?.  About that time Virginia came out of the house looked at the Moxon and said ?That is a big antenna. You?re not going to drive with that on the car are you??  I answered, ?No, you are.? After initial test runs at lower speeds, we concluded that cruising at 75 mph with it on the car was not a problem. With the additional wind loading the gas mileage suffers though.
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> If you are into SOTA or portable operation, the Moxon breaks down nicely into a 3 ft long package about 2 inches in diameter and assembles quickly.
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> Dale provides excellent support for the antenna and has shipped me side pieces on short notice. No balun is included so you probably should add one, a string of ferrite beads do nicely, and, in case you are wondering, and everyone does, there is nothing magic in that black box except wires connecting the driven element to the SO-239.
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> James Duffey KK6MC
> Cedar Crest NM
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